U.S. patent number 6,260,565 [Application Number 09/157,461] was granted by the patent office on 2001-07-17 for double dishwasher.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Maytag Corporation. Invention is credited to Stephen L. Birkenholtz, Juda J. Cordle, Douglas M. Ringger, Rodney M. Welch.
United States Patent |
6,260,565 |
Welch , et al. |
July 17, 2001 |
Double dishwasher
Abstract
A dishwasher cabinet has a front wall, a rear wall, and opposite
sidewalls. The cabinet has an intermediate wall for forming the
cabinet into a first compartment and a second compartment. The
front wall has a first opening and a second opening providing
access into the first and second compartments respectively. First
and second doors are in covering relation over the first and second
openings and are movable between open and closed positions.
Inventors: |
Welch; Rodney M. (Jackson,
TN), Birkenholtz; Stephen L. (Newton, IA), Ringger;
Douglas M. (Newton, IA), Cordle; Juda J. (Decaturville,
TN) |
Assignee: |
Maytag Corporation (Newton,
IA)
|
Family
ID: |
22563825 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/157,461 |
Filed: |
September 21, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
134/200; 134/201;
312/228 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L
15/0084 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47L
15/42 (20060101); B08B 013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;134/56D,57D,58D,88,200,201,115R ;312/228 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0 585 905 |
|
Mar 1994 |
|
EP |
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1 500 537 |
|
Jan 1968 |
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FR |
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0 640 487 |
|
Jun 1990 |
|
FR |
|
Primary Examiner: Stinson; Frankie L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Zarley, McKee, Thomte, Voorhees
& Sease
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A dishwasher comprising:
a dishwasher cabinet having a front wall, a rear wall, and opposite
side walls;
said cabinet having an intermediate wall forming said cabinet into
a first compartment and a second compartment wherein said first
compartment is smaller than said second compartment;
said front wall having a first opening and a second opening therein
providing access to said first and second compartments
respectively; and
a first door in covering relation over said first opening;
a second door in covering relation over said second opening;
said first and second doors each being independently movable from a
closed position in covering relation over said first and second
openings, respectively, to an open position providing access to
said first and second compartments, respectively;
said first door being attached to a drawer which is mounted in said
first compartment for sliding movement therein;
said second door being hinged to said cabinet for hinged movement
between said open and said closed positions.
2. A dishwasher according to claim 1 wherein a first rack is
mounted within said first compartment and a second rack is mounted
within said second compartment, said first and second racks being
adapted to support objects to be washed within said first and
second compartments.
3. A dishwasher according to claim 1 wherein said first compartment
is above said second compartment.
4. A dishwasher comprising:
a dishwasher cabinet having a front wall, a rear wall, and opposite
side walls;
said cabinet having an intermediate wall forming said cabinet into
a first compartment and a second compartment wherein
said first compartment is smaller than said second compartment;
said front wall having a first opening and a second opening therein
providing access to said first and second compartments
respectively;
a first door in covering relation over said first opening;
a second door in covering relation over said second opening;
said first door being movable from a closed position in covering
relation over said first opening to an open position providing
access to said first compartment wherein said first door is
attached to a drawer which is mounted in said first compartment for
sliding movement therein; and
said second door being movable from a closed position in covering
relation over said second opening to an open position providing
access to said second compartment wherein said second door is
hinged to said cabinet for hinged movement between said open and
said closed positions.
5. A dishwasher according to claim 4 wherein a first rack is
mounted within said first compartment and a second rack is mounted
within said second compartment, said first and second racks being
adapted to support objects to be washed within said first and
second compartments.
6. A dishwasher comprising:
a dishwasher cabinet having a top wall, side walls, a bottom wall,
and an intermediate wall dividing said cabinet into an upper
washing compartment with an upper front opening and a lower washing
compartment with a lower front opening;
an upper rack within said upper compartment for supporting objects
to be washed;
a lower rack mounted within said lower compartment for supporting
objects to be washed;
an upper washing mechanism within said upper washing compartment
for spraying washing fluid on said objects within said upper
washing compartment;
a lower washing mechanism within said lower washing compartment for
spraying washing fluid on said objects within said lower washing
compartment;
a drawer mounted within said upper compartment having an upper door
at its front, side walls, a bottom wall, and a rear wall;
drawer mounting mechanism mounting said drawer within said upper
washing compartment for movement from a drawer closed position with
said drawer front wall in covering relation over said upper front
opening to a drawer open position providing access into said drawer
from outside said cabinet;
said upper rack being within said drawer and movable with said
drawer from said closed to said open position;
said upper spray mechanism being completely above said bottom wall
of said drawer;
a lower door movable from a closed position in covering relation
over only said lower washing compartment to an open position
permitting access to said lower washing compartment from outside
said cabinet.
7. A dishwasher according to claim 6 and being further
characterized by said lower door being hinged for hinged movement
between said closed and said open positions.
8. A dishwasher according to claim 6 and being further
characterized by said upper washing compartment and said upper door
being smaller than said lower washing compartment and said lower
door, respectively.
9. A dishwasher according to claim 6 and being further
characterized by said upper spray mechanism being at least
partially within said drawer and movable with said drawer between
said open and said closed positions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a double dishwasher.
Conventional dishwashers include a single compartment for washing
dishes. However, such a single compartment construction is
inefficient when only a few items are needed to be washed.
Additionally dirty items cannot be placed in the single compartment
dishwasher while the dishwasher is running or until after the clean
items have been removed.
Therefore a primary object of the present invention is the
provision of an improved double dishwasher.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a
double dishwasher having two compartments which can be operated
independently of one another.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a
double dishwasher having one compartment smaller than the other for
washing smaller batches of items to be washed.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a
double dishwasher which permits dirty items to be placed in one
washing compartment while clean items are being washed or have not
yet been removed from the other compartment.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a
double dishwasher which is efficient in operation and durable in
manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing objects may be achieved by a dishwasher having a
dishwasher cabinet with a front wall, a rear wall, and opposite
side-walls. The cabinet has an intermediate wall forming the
cabinet into a first compartment and a second compartment. The
front wall has a first opening and a second opening therein
providing access to the first and second compartments respectively.
A first door is fitted in covering relation over the first opening
and is movable from a closed position in covering relation over the
first opening to an open position providing access to the first
compartment. A second door is in covering relation over the second
opening and is movable from a closed position in covering relation
over the second opening to an open position providing access to the
second compartment.
While the relative sizes of the compartments may vary, it is
preferable that one compartment be smaller than the other so as to
accommodate different sizes of batches of items to be washed.
While the types of doors over the two compartments may vary without
detracting from the invention, it is preferable that the one of the
compartments have a drawer mounted therein for sliding movement.
The lower compartment is preferably a hinged door.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the double dishwasher of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the upper drawer partially
removed from the upper washing compartment.
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view showing the hinged door in its
opened position providing access to the lower washing
compartment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings a dishwasher 10 includes a cabinet 12
having a top wall 14, sidewalls 16, 18, and a bottom wall 20. An
intermediate wall 22 divides the cabinet into an upper washing
compartment 24, and a lower washing compartment 26. While the two
compartments are shown in upper and lower relation to one another
it is also possible to orient them differently, for example side by
side.
Mounted within the upper compartment 24 is a drawer 28 having an
upper door 30 at its front. Upper door 30 includes a top edge 31,
side edges 32, 33, and a bottom edge 34. Drawer 28 also includes
sidewalls 35, 36, a bottom wall 37, and a rear wall (not shown).
Upper door 30 provides the front wall for the drawer 28. Within the
drawer 28 is a rack 38 for supporting dishes or other items to be
washed. The structure of the rack may vary without detracting from
the invention, but such racks usually contain tines 40 which help
support the items to be washed.
The particular dishwashing apparatus within drawer 28 may vary
according to any number of conventional washing devices. Rotating
arms, sprayers, and other types of dishwasher actions may be
provided in the drawer 28. FIG. 2 shows a pair of tubes 62, having
spray perforation 64 therein for spraying cleaning fluid on the
items to be washed. Tubes 62 are adapted to rotate about their
longitudinal axis and are connected to a source of pressurized
fluid (not shown).
Drawer 28 also includes a side track 42 having a roller 44 mounted
therein so that the drawer can be rolled from its closed position
shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, to its opened position shown in FIG. 2. A
control panel 46 is provided adjacent the upper edge 31 of door 30.
Also a handle 47 (FIG. 3) is provided for permitting grasping of
the door 30 to roll it between its closed and open positions.
A lower door 48 includes a top edge 50, side edges 52, 53, and a
bottom edge 54. Door 48 is hinged adjacent its bottom edge 54 for
hinged movement from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position
shown in FIG. 3.
As can be seen in FIG. 3, the lower compartment 26 includes a rack
56 mounted therein for supporting items to be washed. Rack 56 is
suspended for rolling movement by rollers 58 so that it may be
rolled inwardly and outwardly from the washing compartment 26 in a
conventional manner. Door 48 includes a handle 60 (FIG. 1) for
permitting the grasping of the door to move it from its closed to
its open positions.
Conventional upper and lower washing arms 66, 68, as well as a
central spray tower 70, are shown for spraying the items within the
lower compartment 26. There are many types of washing apparatus
well-known in the art which could be used in both the upper
compartment and the lower compartment.
In use, items to be washed are placed washed in the lower
compartment, and while those dishes are being washed, additional
dirty dishes or items can be placed in the upper compartment. Also,
because the upper compartment is of a smaller size, smaller batches
of items to be washed can be placed in the upper compartment,
thereby adding to the efficiency of the washing machine and
minimizing the amount of water and energy needed to wash a small
batch of dishes.
In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a
preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms
are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense
only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and
the proportion of parts as well as in the substitution of
equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render
expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the
invention as further defined in the following claims.
* * * * *